Kiera began today's class with an opening prayer that was an Irish blssing. After Kiera led the prayer, the class took Quiz #3 on the Islam vocabulary. Mrs. Egan than gave a powerpoint presentation on the Qu'ran. In the powerpoint, we learned that Muslims believe that the Qu'ran is the literal word of God dictated to Muhammad. (The Qu'ran, Sunnah and Hadith give guidance of life for Muslims.) The Qu'ran does not replace the Torah or the New Testament, but it corrects them. Every recitation of the Qu'ran, which should be done in Arabic, begins with the claim that Allah is merciful and compassionate. Shaytan (Satan) represents evil, while humans, as God's representatives on Earth, have a special status compared to animals.
Humans are born with no original sin but have predestined futures. The Qu'ran is highly committed to social justice and emphasizes Muslims must care for the needy, justly treat the dispossessed, forbid usury, and honor contracts.
We than read an article about how Muslims are allowed to invest in accordance with Islamic law. They are not allowed to invest in companies involved with tobacco, pork, or gambling. Scholars have interpreted the text to infer some of these things. Also, in Islam a loan is considered charity therefore the loaner should not charge interest on the loan. After the article, we interpreted different quotes from the Qu'ran.
Sep. 27, 2010
Today's class started off with prayers by Celine and Molly. The quiz we took today featured three words from the chapter on Islam in our book: Tawhid, Qu'ran, and Shahada. The Qu'ran is the sacred scriptures of Muslims dictated by God to Muhammad, through the Angel Gabriel. Muhammad received these words over a course of 20 years. Tawhid is the Muslim doctrine that explains the unity of God. Islam denies any partners to God such as Christians believe in the Trinity. The shahada is the first pillar of Islam and it means "witnessing". It is the Muslims' profession of faith.
After the quiz, we did a worksheet that reviewed the Mosque and the Hajj. The Mosque is a place of prostration which is empty inside, there are no statues or pictures. The Hajj is the pilgrimmage to Meca once a year to promote bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing tha everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah.
We then learned more about the Hajj. During the Hajj:
After the quiz, we did a worksheet that reviewed the Mosque and the Hajj. The Mosque is a place of prostration which is empty inside, there are no statues or pictures. The Hajj is the pilgrimmage to Meca once a year to promote bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing tha everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah.
We then learned more about the Hajj. During the Hajj:
- men shave their heads and women cut a lock of hair
- no deoderant is used
- no killing or hunting
- no fighting or arguing
We watched a National Geographic youtube video that taught the class more about the events that occur during the Hajj in Mecca.
Sep. 23, 2010
Today in class we started off by taking a quiz. Mrs. Egan asked us to define the words Allah (the Arab word for God), Ka'ba (cube-shaped building in Mecca, the most sacred sight in Islam), and Muhammad (the founder of Islam, and God's messenger), and then describe how they were related to each other.
Once we finished the quiz, Mrs. Egan read "My First Ramadan", a picture book that explains the traditions and rituals that are included in the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan, able bodied adults fast from sunrise to sunset. They eat large meals early in the morning and late at night when the sun is down.
We also learned about the 5 pillars of Islam, the five laws that unite all Muslims: Shahadah, accepting Allah as the one God and Muhammad as his messenger; Salah, the daily prayer performed five times every day; Zakat, the practice of saving a portion of income for donations to the poor; Sawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan as long as you are able; and Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that all adult Muslims must make once in their lifetime.
Once we finished the quiz, Mrs. Egan read "My First Ramadan", a picture book that explains the traditions and rituals that are included in the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan, able bodied adults fast from sunrise to sunset. They eat large meals early in the morning and late at night when the sun is down.
We also learned about the 5 pillars of Islam, the five laws that unite all Muslims: Shahadah, accepting Allah as the one God and Muhammad as his messenger; Salah, the daily prayer performed five times every day; Zakat, the practice of saving a portion of income for donations to the poor; Sawm, fasting during the month of Ramadan as long as you are able; and Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that all adult Muslims must make once in their lifetime.
Sep. 21, 2010
In class, we started off with the Hail Mary. After that, we watched a video interview with a Muslim boy living in England. He spoke about the Qu'ran, the 5 Pillars of Islam, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. We also answered the opening question. The opening question for today was: What is a prophet? The major points of a prophet are that prophets are messengers of God, prophets are in multiple religions, and that prophets try to help the people to do the will of God from the wisdom they are given from the higher power.
arabesque - attempts to demonstrate power of God without images
We also learned about Muhammad. Muhammad ibnu Abdillah was born in Mecca in 569. He married a widow, Khadija, at the age of 25. At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel came to him in a cave on Mt. Hira with revelations that established his prophethood. In 622, Muhammad traveled to Medina on a journey called the Hijra; then in 630, Muhammad lead a triumphal band of followers to Mecca to claim it for the Muslims. Muhammad returns to Mecca for his farewell pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in 632 and dies the same year.
arabesque - attempts to demonstrate power of God without images
We also learned about Muhammad. Muhammad ibnu Abdillah was born in Mecca in 569. He married a widow, Khadija, at the age of 25. At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel came to him in a cave on Mt. Hira with revelations that established his prophethood. In 622, Muhammad traveled to Medina on a journey called the Hijra; then in 630, Muhammad lead a triumphal band of followers to Mecca to claim it for the Muslims. Muhammad returns to Mecca for his farewell pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in 632 and dies the same year.
Sep. 16, 2010
Today, we started class off with the opening question: Who is Allah? We received a worksheet and on the worksheet we described and explained the importance of the Islamic doctrine of tawhid. In particuler, how does the doctrine shape Muslims cosmology. We also got into groups and we listed how many names for God we could.
The class then watched a youtube video that focused on gaining a better understanding of Islam. We learned about shirk, which is the unforgiving crime in Islam. Another term we explored was Yawmuddin which is judgement day for Muslims.
The class then watched a youtube video that focused on gaining a better understanding of Islam. We learned about shirk, which is the unforgiving crime in Islam. Another term we explored was Yawmuddin which is judgement day for Muslims.
Sep. 14, 2010
In this class, we began with two prayers consisting of the main theme of remembering and praying for the 9/11 victims and consequences of those attacks.
We then viewed a powerpoint on understanding other religions. We learned that when we step into these religions, we should not make uninformed generalizations about each religion. We need respect, maturity, awareness, and intelligence to grasp these concepts of other religions.
For the last part of class, we broke up into our 5 groups and worked on discovering the roots of religions in different territories throughout the world.
We then viewed a powerpoint on understanding other religions. We learned that when we step into these religions, we should not make uninformed generalizations about each religion. We need respect, maturity, awareness, and intelligence to grasp these concepts of other religions.
For the last part of class, we broke up into our 5 groups and worked on discovering the roots of religions in different territories throughout the world.
Sep. 10, 2010
In this class we were assigned to work on our powerpoint presentations while Mrs. Egan was away.
Sep. 8, 2010
In this class, our opening prayer was presented by Mia and it was for the victims of 9/11. The opening question in today's class was: How has your family history affected you religiously? There were a few notable answers. One answer was that the last name showed if the family stayed Catholic or converted to Protestantism.
Next, the class viewed a powerpoint written by Dr. Van de Waag. The purpose of the powerpoint was to: 1. promote enquiring, analytical, empathetical approach to a religion; 2. develop an informed understanding of the diversity of world religions; and 3. develop an understanding of the way that religion affects people's lives.
We answered the essential questions for Catholicism in class: What is the human condition?, Who is God?, How did we get here?, Where are we going (positive and negative)?, How do we get there?, How should I live my life?, and Who is considered spiritually perfect?
Here are some example answers to those questions:
- Humans are born with original sin. All humans also posses freewill.
- God is the Creator and he is all powerful.
- Adam and Eve were the first humans. We got here from God's creation.
- Positive: Eternal life with God Negative: Eternal damnation
- We should live our lives according to the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule.
- Jesus is considered spiritually perfect.
Sep. 1, 2010
In this class, we used all the material we've been learning in previous classes to compose essays that were to “synthesize” (as opposed to summarize) what we have learned. In other words, condense it all inot one major idea. We wrote the essays using the R.A.F.T. Format, so many students wrote in the form of a letter or a poem, rather than a standard essay. I chose to wrote it as a letter to my younger brother, taking on a more paternal role in order to thoroughly explain the material.
Some of the things we reviewed in our essay were sacred areas as opposed to profane areas, and how different cultures go about classifying the two. We learned briefly about different areas all over the world, from Aborigines in Australia to areas from Medieval Europe.
Another thing discussed generally in our essays was the methods Mahatma Gandhi used to grow spiritually, a method of crossing over into other religions, such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and coming back to his original religion, Hinuism. We learned in class of the details of this approach to spirituality and the impact it had on the world.
Some of the things we reviewed in our essay were sacred areas as opposed to profane areas, and how different cultures go about classifying the two. We learned briefly about different areas all over the world, from Aborigines in Australia to areas from Medieval Europe.
Another thing discussed generally in our essays was the methods Mahatma Gandhi used to grow spiritually, a method of crossing over into other religions, such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and coming back to his original religion, Hinuism. We learned in class of the details of this approach to spirituality and the impact it had on the world.
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